WASHINGTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced Tuesday he will not seek the Republican nomination for president, saying, "Now is not my time" — and leaving the GOP field all but set.

"For me, the answer was never anything but no," he said. Christie described how he loves his job as governor.

He said he toyed with the idea of running because "I felt an obligation to earnestly consider" the advice of numerous Republicans who were encouraging him to seek the White House. The clamor for the 49-year-old first-term governor reflects discomfort among many in the GOP with the party's current slate of presidential candidates.

"In the end, what I've always felt was the right decision was the right decision today. Now is not my time. I have a commitment to New Jersey that I simply will not abandon," he said. "New Jersey, whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me."

Christie was widely viewed as the best hope of seriously challenging the two Republican front-runners, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

"I don't think it says anything particular about the field," Christie said. "I'd like to think it says something about me."

But thanks to Perry's stumbles in recent debates, Romney has vaulted back into a lead in some presidential preference polls. But the polls also show voters are still open-minded about a candidate.

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"They see an unusual opportunity to get rid of (President Barack) Obama," and they want to make sure they get it right, said Steven Scheffler, president of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition. Iowa holds the nation's first Republican caucus.

But time is running out for someone new to make an impact. South Carolina now plans to hold its first-in-the-South primary Jan. 21, meaning Iowa and New Hampshire are likely to hold their contests earlier in January.

That leaves about three months for campaigning — hardly enough time, say experts, to gain name recognition and money.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story